Digital Ocean vs WP Engine: guide for 2024

Digital Ocean vs WP Engine: Final verdict

Looking over DigitalOcean vs. WP Engine, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.

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  WP Engine (Overall grade: 8.6)
  
  
  stands out with its specialization in WordPress hosting, offering optimized performance, security, and an array of tools geared towards developers and agencies. It’s an ideal choice for WordPress users due to its EverCache® technology, excellent uptime, and proactive security measures, including DDoS mitigation and managed core updates. WP Engine also excels in customer support with 24/7 live assistance via chat and phone, making it a reliable option for users who need consistent and expert help. However, its relatively higher cost might be a deterrent for smaller projects or budget-conscious users.
  
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  DigitalOcean(Overall grade: 8.3)
  
  
  is known for its simplicity, transparent pricing, and a comprehensive suite of hosting options including VPS and cloud hosting, making it a versatile choice for developers and small businesses. It provides excellent real-time monitoring, customizable alerts, and supports a variety of frameworks and languages, catering well to technical users seeking flexibility. While it lacks some of the tailored WordPress features and premium support of WP Engine, DigitalOcean remains a cost-effective and reliable solution, particularly for those looking for a scalable and customizable hosting environment.
  

Hosting Types Offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

🏆 Winner
WP Engine: WP Engine offers unparalleled uptime and availability with top-tier performance metrics.

DigitalOcean provides robust real-time monitoring and customizable alerts for endpoints across multiple global regions. It promises a 99.99% uptime SLA, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and multiple data centers for optimized performance. The service also includes automated backups, advanced security measures, and flexible hosting options tailored to various frameworks and languages.

WP Engine excels with 24/7 uptime monitoring and remarkable performance metrics, including a 100% uptime over a two-month period and superior server response times. With a 99.99% SLA, proactive security measures, and a comprehensive global data center network, WP Engine ensures high reliability and low latency. The platform’s excellent customer support and proactive maintenance further enhance its top-tier service.

🏆 Winner
WP Engine: Managed WordPress hosting known for high speed and excellent performance.

When comparing general performance, WP Engine leads the pack with fast page load times enhanced by their proprietary EverCache® technology and Global CDN. While DigitalOcean also boasts SSD storage and a CDN, it primarily relies on customizable Droplets and App Platform for performance, which might require more active management. Both offer global data centers, with DigitalOcean having 14 distributed worldwide and WP Engine featuring a broad network across the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. WP Engine’s infrastructure is tailored specifically for WordPress, providing an edge in managing and optimizing WordPress sites compared to DigitalOcean.

Website Speed

Both hosting services offer impressive speeds; DigitalOcean leverages SSD storage, caching mechanisms, and a global CDN for quick content retrieval and efficient database operations. However, WP Engine stands out with its EverCache® technology designed for WordPress, yielding faster page load times and improved SEO scores. Additionally, WP Engine’s support for the latest PHP versions ensures even quicker responses, while their optimized Core Web Vitals solutions offer an extra performance boost.

Scalability

Scalability is critical for growing websites, and both hosting services offer scalable solutions. DigitalOcean allows horizontal scaling and load balancing through its Droplet system, letting users manually configure resources to handle traffic surges. WP Engine, on the other hand, emphasizes scalable architecture with isolated resources for optimized performance. While the cost specifics for scaling on either platform aren’t mentioned, WP Engine’s managed environment likely provides a more seamless experience for scaling WordPress sites.

🏆 Winner WP Engine: A highly secure hosting environment for WordPress websites.

Both DigitalOcean and WP Engine have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

DigitalOcean and WP Engine both offer robust technical security measures. DigitalOcean excels with data encryption at rest and in transit, DDoS protection, cloud firewalls, and web application firewalls (WAF). It also supports various PHP versions and provides automatic backups. WP Engine, on the other hand, features managed core updates, WAF, DDoS mitigation, and automated plugin and theme updates. It uses Argo Smart Routing for optimal performance and security. Both provide SSL certificates, but WP Engine’s integration with Cloudflare CDN and edge protection enhances its offer.

Operational security measures:

DigitalOcean employs SSH access, two-factor authentication (2FA), and virtual private clouds (VPC) for secure networking. They also offer load balancers and managed databases with encrypted traffic and permissions options. WP Engine focuses on continuous monitoring, proactive threat detection, and live security management by a dedicated team. It automates threat detection, blocking massive numbers of daily attacks, and includes platform protections for WooCommerce. WP Engine’s real-time security management and 24/7 global support surpass DigitalOcean’s in proactive operational measures.

Compliance and certifications:

DigitalOcean is GDPR compliant and offers a wide range of certifications including SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, CSA STAR Level 1, and APEC CBPR PRP. Its data centers are PCI-DSS certified. WP Engine is also SOC-2 compliant and ISO 27001-2013 certified but does not specify GDPR compliance. It includes PCI compliance within a certain scope but mentions variability in results due to customized components.

🏆 Winner DigitalOcean: An exceptional hosting provider with a broad range of hosting options and robust security features.

DigitalOcean and WP Engine both offer varied hosting solutions tailored to different needs. DigitalOcean stands out with its comprehensive suite of hosting types including dedicated, shared, and VPS hosting, and specialized managed services for Kubernetes and databases. It provides robust security features such as DDoS protection, SSL certificates, and SSH access. Moreover, its additional services like load balancers, CDN, and cloud firewalls cater well to users seeking a full-fledged hosting environment. In contrast, WP Engine focuses on WordPress optimization, offering managed hosting plans specifically designed for different use cases like eCommerce and enterprise-level needs. WP Engine’s end-to-end management of WordPress, PHP, and MySQL updates ensures that even non-technical users find it easy to manage their sites.

While DigitalOcean provides essential tools like 24/7 support, community tutorials, and ticket-based support, WP Engine goes a step further with its specialized WordPress support available via chat and phone. WP Engine also offers unique tools like EverCache® technology for speed enhancement and a free automated migration plugin, which can be a significant draw for WordPress users. The lack of a free domain offering might deter cost-conscious customers, but the inclusion of multiple premium WordPress themes might balance it out for some. DigitalOcean, though lacking a dedicated website builder, offers flexible environments for various applications, making it a versatile solution for developers and businesses seeking extensive customization options.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both DigitalOcean and WP Engine offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

DigitalOcean does not offer native email hosting services, focusing instead on providing robust server environments. Users typically need to integrate third-party email solutions like Google Workspace or Zoho. WP Engine, on the other hand, also does not provide its email hosting services but supports transactional email capabilities through integration with services like Mailgun. Both providers require users to look elsewhere for full-fledged email solutions, which might include setting up their own email servers or using external providers.

🏆 Winner
DigitalOcean: Offering a broad range of competitive plans with transparent pricing and diverse features.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

When comparing DigitalOcean and WP Engine, DigitalOcean provides more economical options starting at $4/month for website and WordPress hosting. DigitalOcean not only offers VPS plans from $4/month but also higher-performance options including dedicated and optimized droplets. WP Engine, on the other hand, focuses exclusively on managed WordPress hosting, starting at $20/month with robust support and included themes. DigitalOcean’s variety and pricing are beneficial for users seeking more customization and lower cost, whereas WP Engine caters to those needing specialized WordPress services with higher visit allowances and premium support.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, DigitalOcean offers high-performance VPS options such as Memory-Optimized Droplets starting at $84/month. These include large amounts of memory, SSD storage, and high transfer limits. WP Engine’s Custom Plan, starting at $600/month, provides specialized WordPress hosting with features like advanced DDoS protection and managed WAF, making it suitable for larger enterprises seeking dedicated WordPress solutions and premium customer support. Each provider targets different needs, with DigitalOcean focusing on flexibility and performance, and WP Engine emphasizing specialized WordPress hosting.

🏆 Winner
WP Engine: An expertly optimized platform for seamless WordPress hosting and migration.

DigitalOcean uses a custom control panel, designed to be incredibly intuitive. It provides a simple interface that makes it easy for technical users to manage droplets and other resources and non-technical users to deploy 1-Click Apps or utilize Cloudways for managed hosting. The dashboard is straightforward but may present a learning curve for users unfamiliar with cloud infrastructure, despite its user-friendly design.

WP Engine, on the other hand, offers a custom dashboard specifically optimized for WordPress users. It is clean, intuitive, and highly accessible for a wide range of users, prioritizing usability and efficiency. The panel includes essential features such as backups, staging environments, and developer tools. This focus on WordPress management offers a tailored experience for website administrators, whether they are seasoned developers or beginners.

Both DigitalOcean and WP Engine offer migration services for websites, but their approaches and costs differ. DigitalOcean provides various migration options, including preconfigured 1-Click Apps for quick deployment. While DigitalOcean navigates users through the migration process with their extensive documentation and the Droplets system, it may require a bit more manual setup compared to WP Engine’s Automated Migration plugin. WP Engine’s plugin simplifies the process substantially, allowing users to move their sites effortlessly at no additional cost. WP Engine also offers manual migration checklists and 24/7 support to help resolve any issues during the transition.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. DigitalOcean’s help center comprises comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and community support that are highly informative, yet could be overwhelming for beginners. The array of available resources ensures that users have the required information and assistance when needed. WP Engine offers an extensive Support Center with step-by-step guides, troubleshooting articles, and 24/7 live support. The resources available are particularly beneficial for WordPress-related queries, making the support more focused and efficient for users.

🏆 Winner
WP Engine: A top-notch solution for comprehensive user management in web hosting.

DigitalOcean and WP Engine both offer robust user management functionalities, but they differ in the flexibility and variety they provide. DigitalOcean supports simple role structures with Owner, Biller, and Member roles, each having defined access levels and permissions. On the other hand, WP Engine offers a more nuanced approach with multiple user roles that split rights more granularly, especially with the addition of “Partial” roles that can be tweaked for environment-specific permissions. This additional granularity offers more flexibility for large teams or companies with diverse user needs.

DigitalOcean’s user management interface is straightforward, focusing on ease of inviting new members and managing them through an intuitive membership table. Team owners can see detailed sign-in methods, which adds an element of security. WP Engine provides a comprehensive User Portal where users can easily be added, edited, and removed. The inclusion of specific features like checklists for partial users to choose environments enhances tailored access and management capabilities. The detailed account activity logs are particularly helpful for tracking user actions.

Access control measures on both platforms ensure safe and efficient user management. DigitalOcean allows team owners to dynamically adjust roles, providing a clear way to monitor and manage user access. WP Engine, however, excels with more extensive access control, allowing granular modifications to user roles and detailed logging of user activities. This is particularly critical for growing teams needing precise control over who accesses specific environments and resources.

DigitalOcean user roles table:

WP Engine user roles table:

🏆 Winner
WP Engine: The platform scores higher in customer support evaluation, showing strength in all categories, particularly in availability and the range of communication channels.

DigitalOcean and WP Engine both provide email and ticket support, but the manner and depth of their services vary. DigitalOcean offers basic support through a ticketing system and premium live chat, while their extensive documentation and community forums are valuable for self-service troubleshooting. WP Engine, on the other hand, elevates support with 24/7 phone and chat access, underscoring their commitment to constant availability and ease of reaching skilled WordPress experts.

WP Engine shines with its tailored approach, offering dedicated phone support and chat services for all clients, ensuring that users can quickly resolve issues. DigitalOcean’s support, although comprehensive, largely relies on written communication tools like emails and tickets, supplemented by documentation and tutorials for self-help. Both platforms offer premium enterprise support options, yet WP Engine’s consistent 24/7 live support and higher customer satisfaction rating make it the preferable choice for many users.

Digital Ocean vs WP Engine: User feedback

DigitalOcean consistently garners praise for its simplicity, user-friendly interface, and transparent pricing, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced developers. Users appreciate the straightforward setup, reliable performance, and excellent customer support, highlighting features like one-click deployment and robust documentation. However, there are some minor criticisms, including a limited variety of server configurations compared to larger providers and occasional slow customer support response times. Despite these drawbacks, DigitalOcean is highly regarded for its cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and overall reliability, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses and startups.

WP Engine exudes excellence in managed WordPress hosting, boasting top-notch technical support that’s often highlighted as a standout feature. Users appreciate the user-friendly dashboard, seamless migration tools, daily backups, and solid security measures, all of which contribute to high performance and reliability. However, the service does come at a higher price point, which some users find steep, especially for entry-level plans or smaller projects. Despite occasional concerns about costs and some technical nuances, WP Engine’s premium service quality justifies the expense for many, making it a highly recommended solution for businesses and developers alike.

Digital Ocean vs WP Engine: FAQ